Before I Fall
By Lauren Oliver
4/5 stars
Reviewer: Nichole
How could one very self-centered,
obnoxious teenage girl completely grow up and find herself in one day? When that one day repeats over and over and
over again, that’s how.
In the first chapter of the book
we meet Samantha, we dislike Samantha, and then Samantha dies. Or does she?
She wakes up after a horrible car crash as if it never happened and
slowly firgures out she is reliving the day again. Though Sam isn’t sure why she’s been given
this opportunity, if it is an opportunity, she uses it to try to change the
outcome of her own death. That’s
logical. Wouldn’t we all? But at the end of the day, she finds herself
back in her bed, waking up to the same day again.
Are there any consequences to
your actions if you just get one day to live any way you want, repeatedly? Does anything you do matter? Sam has lived her life without fear of the
consequences of her narcissistic ways, but things only get worse when she
realizes she can seduce a teacher, pick fights, and behave as badly as she
wants, only to be able to redo it all again the next day. Going through a myriad of emotions, Sam
explores different relationships in her life with each new revisit to the same
day -- some good; some very bad. She
starts seeing her friends in a whole new light, understanding the complexities
of why people act like they do. She
starts seeing people through clearer
eyes, not marred by peer pressure and the drive to be among the most popular
girls in school. She spends time with
her family and falls in love, filling holes in herself, watching people around
her blossom with her sudden participation in their lives. With each positive change, Sam gets closer
and closer to figuring out why she’s continuing to relive this day and righting
the wrongs of her life. As she learns
more about herself, you will like Sam more and more, and you will not want her
to die.
How’s it end? You have to read to find out. It will surprise you. And you will need Kleenex.
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